Drying apparatus



c. W. CASS AND W. L. BAXTER.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APAS, 1919.

1,372,337. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. W. CASS AND W. L. BAXTER.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1919.

nllhguuuuuuuuuunuuunugg maan-)m Men/5f?.

C. VV. CASS AND L. BAXTER. DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man Ama, 191gA 1,372,337. pmmted Mm'. 22E, MRL

3 SHEETSf--SHEE 3.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. CASS, OF SALEM, AND WILLIAM L. BAXTER, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHU- SETTS; SAID CASS ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE SSIGNMENTS, 0F HIS ENTIRE RIGHT T0 HELBURN THOMPSON COMPANY. 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATIDN 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

:DRYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that we, CHARLES W. CASS and VILLIAM L. BAXTER, both citizens of the United States of America, and residents, respectively, of Salem and Beverly, both in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and "useful Improvements in Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drying apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for drying skins, hides, pelts and the like. The drying apparatus for this purpose heretofore provided and in common use is of two distinct types; the irst is a board upon which the damp skin is stretched and secured by tacks driven through the edge portion of the skin into the board. This apparatus is ob-i jectionable for many reasons. The skin or other stock is necessarily damaged by the tacks, and as one side of the skin lies a ainst the board the drying process is serious y retarded. The boards soon become very dry and highly inflammable under the heat of the drying room, thus increasin the fire risk; and they weer out rapidly 1n service because the tacks have to be driven into substantially the same part of the board, with the result that that articular' surface soon becomes disintegrate and the tacks will not hold under the strains exerted by the drying skin.

In the attempt to eliminate the defects of tacking so-called, drying apparatus has been provided com rising essentially an open frame in whic thev skin is stretched for drying by strings having at one end a metal clip or togofle7 which grips the skin, the other end of t e string belng Secured to the frame. While these frames do away with the damage to the skin caused by the tacks of the older device, and both sides of the skin are exposed during the drying process, they are very unsatisiactory in service. A relatively large number of strings are required which, notwithstanding the exercise of due care, become tangled when a skin is placed upon the frame or removed therefrom.` It takes a relatively long time to stringenti stretch the skin upon the frame and to remove it; the length of the strings has to be chan ed for each skin placed upon the frame, an the strings Stretch individually under the strain of the drying skin so that a uniform strain is not maintained upon the skin during the drying process.

It is the object of this invention to provide a tireproof, or substantially iireproof, drying apparatus wliereon a plurality of skins may be quickly stretched and as easily removed without the use of strings or they like, and whereon the stock is securely held during the drying process-with both sides there of adequately exposed to the heat ofthe drying room or other drying medium. Other objects of the invention will be hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of our invention;-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved drying apparatus showing a skin stretched thereon;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view partly in section and partly in elevation, of a top corner of the frame;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a bottom corner;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the frame shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed front elevations of alternative forms of the invention;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view,partly in section, of another alternative form;

Fig. 1() is a. perspective view of a fasten ing clip engaged upon the stock Support;

Figs'. 11 and 12 are side views of the metal clip showing said clip in open and closed positions respectively; and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification.

Our improved apparatus comprises a frame, preferably rectangular as shown, and formed of tubular metallic members A with corner pieces A which, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided with tenons d snugly fitted into said tubular members and secured therein by a driving fit, or by s ot welding, or by crimping as shown at in F ig. 4, or in any other suitable manner. Said corner pieces A are further provided with inwardly extending flanges a having apertures adapted to receive and hold the ends of the helical springs S hereinafter referred to.

In service, said frames are preferably disposed upon a track or support T (Fig, 1), and, as shown in said figure, are.prov1ded with wheels W or other rotatable supports adapted to run on said track. If desired, said wheels WV may be dispensed with and the frame provided witli a top member A as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, which projects beyond the side members of the frame, said projections or supports being adapted slidably to engage the track or supports T. When this construction is employed we prefer to use the corner pieces A2 shown in said Figs. 6 and 8, in which the top member A can be bolted. If the frame is to be used under conditions in which it is necessary or desirable to support it upon a rack or the like rather than upon the track or support T, we prefer to construct said frame as shown in Fig. 7, in which all the corner pieces A are of the same construction, the

' frame having a symmetrical outer surface.

Mounted within said frame isthe stock support comprising essentially a body portion having openings adapted to receive the spurs or hooks of metal fasteners (Figs. 10-12) adapted to grip the stock as hereinafter described. Preferably said body portion is reticulated and in some degree Hexible, and we prefer the construction shown which consists of a sheet of wire mesh B having at each edge a binder comprising a channel bar C and a binder bar D adapted to fit therein, the. edge of the wire sheet B extending over the top of said bar D and being securely anchored between saidbars C and D which are tightly held together by bolts E, preferably eye-bolts, passing through both said bars. To insure a secure anchorage of the wiresheet B, the binder bar D is preferably..made of a material, such as wood, into which the wire may sink or bite when the bar D and the bar C are secured together. If desired the binder bar ma be of metal and one or more members F (Fig. 13) of wood or of a relatively soft metal such as Babbitt or similar alloy, may be disposed between the bars C and D.

While a single sheet of wire mesh B may be secured to the binders in the manner described, we prefer to Secure two such sheets as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 13. As shown in said figures the sheets B are disposed upon opposite sides of the binder bar D and are thus'spaced apart permitting free circulation of air therebetween, so that when the skins are secured to the respective stock supports by the means and in the mannerv hereinafter described the opposite sides of each sheet'are fully exposed to the hot air or other drying medium.

lt is essential that the flexible sheet or sheets B shall be stretchedtaut within the frame at all times, and we therefore provide resilient means such as the helical springs S for connecting the binders with the frame. The ends of said springs may be anchored in any suitable manner, as by the eyelets G fast on the frame members A, the eye-bolts E of the binders, and the apertures in the flanges a of the corner pieces A.

It will be clear that by the provision of an independent binder upon each edge of the wire mesh sheet or sheets and by the resilient connection between said binders and the rigid frame,e`ective means are provided for holding said wire mesh sheet taut at all times and eliminating the possibility of distortion thereof under all stresses and strains particularly those incident to the drying of the stock.

In Fig. 9 there is shown an alternative form of construction in which the body portion of the stock support is made of expanded metal B provided on each edge with a binder consisting of a bar C and a binder bar D, said bars being secured together in any suitable manner as by the screws K, with the edge portion of the expanded metal strip B securely anchored therebetween. As in the construction already described we preferably employ two metal sheets B spaced apart as shown.

This form of the invention is illustrative of a foraminated stock support not so iexiblc as to ,be likely to become readily distorted under the strains incident to service. It is therefore unnecessary in this form of the invention to employ resilient connections between the binders and frame, and a suitable connection therebetween is by the bolts L fast on the bars C and adjustably connected to the frame members A.

The skin or other stock is secured to the stock supports by clips or toggles preferh ably of the construction shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. Said clip comprises a ip or finger piece P and relatively movab e jaws P and P2, the former having an upturned and the latter a downturned lip, said lips being adapted to intertit when the fastener is in closed position as shown in Fig. 12. The clip is further provided with a hook or spur P3 located upon the outer side of the fastener and adjacent to the finger piece P. Oppositely disposed posts P4 are provided upon which is pivoted a handle P for closing and clamping the jaws.

n use, a number of clips or toggles are secured to the edge of the stock Y (Fig. l). and the stock is then stretched upon one of the stock supports, the spurs P3 of the clips being inserted into the openings in the foraminatcd support. Another skin is then similarly disposed on the other stock sup` port. l hen so stretched for drying, both skins are very securely held and thoroughly stretched, and they are so positioned that both sides of the stock are subjected to thc a plurality of foraminate hot air or other drying medium so that the d ing recess is quickly carried out.

t wil be clear that the clip or toggle comprisin part of our apparatus as above described 1s peculiarly adapted for use in securin lthe stock to the foraminated support. t will be observed that the jaws are normally open so as-tobe readily passed on oppositesides of the edge of the stock, and that when the jaws are closed the interfitting lips insure a rm grip even upon very thin stock. The finger piece P provides means whereby the skin or other stock to which the fastener is attached can .be stretched very tight and the spur or hook slips easily into and out of the apertures of t e stock support.

The apparatus is very strongly constructed to resist the strains to which it is subjected and at the same time is light enough to be readily handled under allusual comprismg a metal frame, a reticulated flexible metal stock support, and springs connecting said frame and said support to hold said support in a stretched state.

3. Drying apparatus comprising a frame, a foraminated stock support havlng an independent binder fast'Un eachv edge thereof, and connections between said frame and said binders for stretching thesupports by motion of the binders in different directions.

4. Drying apparatus compkrising a frame, a reticulated stock supplort aving an independent binder on eac edge thereof, and resilient connections between said frame and said binders.

5. Drying apparatus comprising a frame, a foraminated stockA support having independent binders at each edge thereof comprising binding members secured together with the edge of said support held therebetween, and connections betweenl said frame and said binders.

6. Drying apparatus com rising va frame, stock supports spaced apart, binders common to sai supports fast on the edges thereof and connections between said binders and'said frame.

7. Drying apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of foraminatcd stock supports spaced apart, binders common to said Supports fast on the edges thereof, each binder comprising a channel bar, and a binding bar fitting therein, said bars being secured together with the edges of said supports held therebeween, and resilient connections between said frame and said binders.

8. Drying apparatus comprising a frame,- a pair of recticulated stock supports, 'binders common to said supports fast on the edges thereof, each binder comprising a channel bar anda binding bar fitting therein, the edges of the respective supports being disposed on opposite sides of said binding bar and turned over the top thereof, and sald bars being secured together whereby said edges are secured between said bars and said supports are spaced apart, and resilient connections between said frame and said binders.

9. Drying apparatus comprising a metal frame having oppositely disposed support- 'ing 'members, a pair of reticulated, metal stock supports, binders common to said supports fast on the edges thereof each binder comprising .a channel bar and a wooden Abinding bar fitting therein, the edges of the respective supports being disposed on oposite sides of said binding bar and extendlng over the top thereof, and said bars being secured together whereby said edges are secured between said bars and said supports are spaced apart, and springs connecting said frame and said binders.

l0. Drying apparatus comprisin a frame formed of tubular members an havin corner ieces provided with tenons fitte into sai tubular members and secured therein, saidcorner pieces having inwardly extending flanges provided w'ith anchoring apertures.

11. Drying apparatus comprising a frame, a pluralltyof foraminated stock supports spaced apart, disposed side by side in parallel planes, binders cbmmon to said supports fast on the edges thereof, and connections between-'said binders and said frame.

12. Drying apparatus comprising a frame, a plurality of flexible foraminated stock supports, spaced apart disposed side by side in parallel planes, binders common to said supports fast on the edges thereof, and resilient connections between said binders and said frame.

Signed by us at Salem, Massachusetts, this second day of April, 1919. n

CHARLES W. CASS. WILLIAM L. BAXTER. 

